in your opinion

If you want an active and adventurous daughter how should she be raised and should it be any different from how you raise a boy?

Emily Miazga: Founder of Em's Power Cookies

" I believe girls should be raised to learn they can be independent and capable. If this means the same as boys then so be it. Our culture traditionally tends to view girls as being less capable so this just needs to be recognized and addressed when raising young Powergirls."

Abby Jackway: Owner operator, Explore Wanaka

"In my opinion you should give your child/ children as many opportunities to play and explore, we also need to do things with them ( ride bikes, horses , skateboards, swim, play, climb trees, paint, create, build huts, dance, imagine, snowboard or ski, explore, sing etc) take them places expose them to nature and loads of experiences mostly love and nurture them in all environments. Then you know you have given your child/ children a good start and the best chance to be active and adventurous or whatever it is they want to be! I think to raise them the same girls and boys, of course over the years they will have different needs but they can be brought up the same with all the same opportunities and adventures!"

Brian McKenzie: Reader

"No different ! I always told my daughters that girls can do anything and have done my best to raise them with that attitude since becoming a solo dad ( widowed ) to them since they were 1 and 5 years old."

Natalie Tambolash: World Expeditions NZ Manager

"Should be no different to how you raise a boy. Any child should be taught to live life to the fullest, go out and explore and try everything at least once. Life’s to short to live with “what ifs”."

Pianika Boddington: Owner Operator Rafting New Zealand

"This is a difficult one, as we try to be as active as we can with Blaise (girl), mountain biking, skiing, walking, swimming, water sports etc... Its always been a painful experience..... However - She has found love in rock climbing, she loves ropes, tieing knots and climbing and she especially loves Sasha Degulian...... So from me in my opinion - As parents we keep fit and active, we surround ourselves by families that are active and love the outdoors... Our kids get more involved when there are other children involved. We immerse our selves in adventure sports and watch a lot of surfing, skiing, rock climbing - Constantly expressing to our children that the possibilities are endless!!! - Opening their eyes to what is out there is so important and it shows as Blaise has stepped out of our comfort zones and experience - EEEk and loves rockclimbing - She is now lead climbing and has joined Turangi Rockclimbing Club. We don't see any difference with raising our children differently. Go hard or GO home!!"

Michelle Hudgell: Reader

"I don't think girls should be raised any differently to boys! Hubby and I try to be active and adventurous which sets a good precedence and my girls love mountain biking and are currently learning to skateboard. I let them try anything once, and if they like it, great!"

Fiona Turner: Paige's mum!

"If you want an active and adventurous daughter, I think that you should lead by example. If you are active and enjoy sports and involve your children, I think that they will follow suit in their own attitudes towards sport and adventure. I think you should be positive and encourage them and also make it fun. I have bought both my son and daughter up with the same philosophy and they both are super competitive, love their sport and are both adventuresome. I think these attitudes also roll over into other aspects of their lives."

Annabel Anderson: Professional Athlete

"Expose them to the same experiences you would your sons. Give them the same opportunities and let them become their own person rather than conforming to gender bias and stereotypes."

Karen Koens: Director Subserface Fiji

"As a mother, you need to be a role model for your daughter, by sharing the adventures together. Keep active, get outdoors together and keep encouraging each other to try new experiences. Absolutely no difference in raising a boy."

Sarah Hay: Northern Rocks

"You should consider your daughter as a person, not as a gender stereotype, and try and offer as many different activities as feasible for your situation/family so that she can experience a range of sports and crafts, rather than specializing on one activity at a young age. Growing up my parents allowed me to try dancing, tennis, badminton, athletics, music, learning an instrument, art, camping, skiing.. even on an extremely tight budget and I developed a sense for what I was drawn to, excelled in and wished to pursue. We never had TV so getting creative outside and reading became normal. I think girls and boys should be offered equal opportunities to experience activities outside of the classroom or shopping mall, to get involved with community groups or family weekends going on hikes or outdoor climbing or camping; adventure comes from your ability to seek and embrace it, and if young girls can be shown there is a whole world of awesome activities out there that are available for both boys and girls, then all the better for their well rounded selves!"

Paige Hareb: Professional Athlete

"I think if you want an active and adventurous child you need to be active with them and encourage them into being active and adventurous. I have clear and fond memories of my Mum playing basketball with me at home after school, passing me the ball so I can practice lay-ups. I think sport is the best thing for kids, it makes them social, they learn so many skills physically and mentally, it naturally keeps them active and most of the time sport actually keeps them out of trouble and hanging with the “right” crowds too. I still grew up in a bit of an era where “boys were better than girls” but I had encouragement from my parents always telling me “you can do and be anything you want” “Paige you can do exactly the same the boys are doing, you can do it better than them!”. Just to hear encouragement, support and the belief from my parents made me want to do it, to prove to them, myself and the boys that I could be better! I didn’t have any iPads back then and if we watched too much tv we were told to go and play on the tramp or outside doing some kind of activity! I always tell myself that if I have kids I’m really going to try hard to not get lazy and hand my kid a iPad. I really want to bring my kids up like my parents brought me up because I’m so thankful for how sporty and adventurous I have been my whole life. And no it shouldn’t be any different raising a boy or a girl :) we can both do it all."